The closest town to our house is the tiny Esterillos Oeste on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, whose main industries seem to be fishing, surfing, and low-key food and lodging for visitors.
Soaked
Last night we went to Jaco, our nearest “big” town for a dose of faster Internet, beachside playground, and dinner at Green Room Cafe, a great restaurant picked by my sister Joanna to celebrate her awesome AP test scores.
Unintentional Jokes
I was reading that children as young as three have gone on zip-line tours of the forest canopy at a nearby nature reserve. I was skeptical that this might work with my child, since Theo has only recently begun to enjoy swings. Then again, I also remembered doubting Theo’s ability to ride a horse a few months back and being proven very wrong.
A Costa Rican Massage
I’ve heard the experience of driving over the rockier Costa Rican roads referred to as the “Costa Rican massage.” Because we didn’t have plans to head to more inaccessible areas of Costa Rica, we booked a regular car instead of a 4×4. Overall, it’s been fine even on the rockier roads, as long as we drive slowly.
Birds on the Beach
Toddler Friendships
Theo’s past friendships have mostly involved close-proximity independent play, with occasional forays into grabbing toys out of one another’s hands. Honestly, when you’re a toddler, adults are generally more useful and accommodating than your peers. (That being said, Theo does still ask about kids from his daycare, so the desire to connect is there in at least the abstract sense.)
Mono Congo Cafe in Dominical
Coffee and Solitude
While I love everyone I’m traveling with, I do still sometimes feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of daily togetherness.
I’ve been involuntarily waking between 5 and 6 am most mornings. Recently, instead of trying (and failing) to fall back asleep, I’ve been using the time to drink coffee in the hammock while enjoying the solitude, periodically interrupted only by hummingbirds, macaws, lizards, and (less welcome) wasps.
Costa Rican Coffee
I enjoy Costa Rican coffee in general, but I’m especially fond espresso drinks here; to my taste, the smoothness of the beans is pretty perfect with milk. 
Decomposition
I know that we’re in a pretty humid environment, but it still amazes me to watch something go from mushroom to mush in just three days.
